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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Standing In

We are cat-sitting.

We are not currently pet owners, for no other reason than I
don’t really like having pets.

The reason is two-fold.
First, I don’t really believe in keeping animals solely for my own
pleasure. I sort of feel bad for the
pets. They can’t talk to anyone or go to
the store or meet friends for lunch.
There’s no Cat’s Night Out on Thursday nights. They don’t decide where to go on
vacation. They can’t play the lottery
or shop for clothing. They can’t drive
or fall in love or go to school. They
don’t even know who Jimmy Fallon is.

We also don’t have pets because you have to take care of pets. You have to feed them, make sure they have
somewhere to poop and pee, wash them off when they get dirty, and make sure
they have what they need when you go away (or take them along with you). You have to sort of cater to them. They need you.

They are like children (and husbands) that way.

And I have had enough of that.

Recently I am experiencing the feeling of being unneeded, a
feeling that is really apparent this winter because we’ve all been stuck inside
together for 624 days. I putter around
the house and put things away. I fold
laundry and make dinner and empty the dishwasher. I don’t have to. Anyone else in this house can do these
things.

It’s wholly incredible.

* * *

This cat is cute. He’s
also entertaining. He stretches languidly,
then falls off the piano. He carries a toy
chili pepper around in his mouth. He
sits on a stool at the counter and peeks over the top when I prepare meals. He prrrps when we fill his bowl
with his disgusting food and he naps in the sunlight that pours through the
window. Just looking at him relaxes me.

But he poops in his litterbox immediately after we clean it. My husband is allergic to his fur. He continues to walk on all the tables even
after we shoo him away. We are on alert
for open doors to the outside or closed doors to the basement where his box
is. He bites our hands when we pet him
and he pounces on our feet when we walk by.
He wakes my daughter up at four in the morning by jumping and running and
eating her hair.

But we like having him.
I think he likes us. He’s easy;
we’re happy. It’s a treat to have him.

And he will go home, leaving us without a pet once again. And I will go back to not really being needed.

Having kids sure does change the priority in the house, doesn't it? I never could get back to our little dog being the baby when the kids were born. And then we had to put her down, and I never quite forgave myself. Yet another reason why we don't keep pets - losing them is too traumatic. I'm a huge wimp.

He is pretty!We don't have any pets and my daughter really wants a cat. My husband really wants a dog.I have never really liked cats and all of the chaos they cause.Dogs are pretty much like having kids, in terms of work and money, but I'm more inclined to want a dog because I want to feel needed. I want affection! Not as many cats provide that!

This cat is okay as far as mischief goes. He's really just a kitten but still pretty sedate. He hasn't knocked over anything valuable - yet. We are keeping him busy so he pretty much sleeps all day, but his being a little nocturnal is hard to take, especially the hair-chewing. Oy.

I like dogs too, as long as they live in someone else's house. They are like having a two-year-old forever.

You know, you just gave me a good idea. Our dog is close to the end of the old road, and all of my family except me wants to immediately get another dog. I would prefer to wait a year or so so I can have some recuperation time, but I guess I wouldn't mind foster-parenting a shelter dog now and again. Hmmmmmm. No smelly pooping-indoor cats, though.

Cats can make you feel needed, on their schedule. I laughed when I read about pooping in a clean litter box. My cat does that, too. Then again, wouldn't you rather be sitting on a clean toilet than a dirty one?

You experience pet sitting is a lot like my experience with kids: I'll be around them long enough to have fun and play with them, and then as it starts to feel too much like a chore, I give them back. Your exposure to this beautiful kitten is short enough to have fun, yet long enough to realize you don't want one of your own.

Thank you Lisa! He is sweet and the kids and I are enamored (the hubs is still wary due to his allergies). Although he kind of has ruined my fantasy of a cat warming up my lap or feet in the afternoons. This cat, he's a busy one. Maybe in a year or two he will learn the art of lap-warming.

That IS a really pretty cat, but I'm with you on the "no pets" business. I just don't want to have something else to take care of, so for now I will listen to my kids whine and pet the neighbor's dog every time he wanders into my yard, which is often enough.

You're hilarious, Andrea! I have to disagree with you on this one though. I'm an animal lover by nature and have never been without at least one pet. They can be a pain in the ass but the unconditional love is worth it! :)